Plastic molding conversion attachment for reciprocating presses



April 27, 1954 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 J. F'. SH PLASTIC MOLDING CONV FOR RECIPROCAT ANNON RSION ATTACHMENT ING PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet l H1/mes ZIJ/Zwam,

BY m

April 27, 1954 J. F. SHANNON 2,676,357

PLASTIC NCLDINC CONVERSION ATTACHMENT FCR RECIPRCCATTNG PRESSES Filed Feb. 28, 1952 4 Sheets-sheet 2 BY mmm April 27, 1954 HANNON 2,676,357

J. F. S PLASTIC MOLDING CONVERSION ATTACHMENT FOR RECIPROCATING PRESSES Filed Feb. 28, 1952 April 27, 1954 J. F. SHANNON 2,676,357

PLASTIC MOLDING CONVERSION -ATTACHMENT FOR RECIPROCATING PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STAT-ss ATENT OFFICE PLASTIC MOLDING CONVERSON. ATTACH- MENT FOR REGIPROCATING-'PRESSES James Shannon, Boontom N. J. ApplicationFebruary 28, 1952, Serial No. 273,919

1 The-,invention relatesv to plastic molding machineryl and. has particular Vreference to equip.,- nientffor molding .s plastics by the injection method.` e... n

In the plastic industry and particularly in experimental laboratory workwhere a regular molding,;machine `may not. be available or. suited for certainl experiments, there is a need forimprovisedqmolding apparatus which can be setup quickly7 andatslow expense. Therefore, it is my prim-ary object to provide the industrywith a small; compact andv inexpensive conversion unit which isfcapable. ofbeingattached removably to any one ofthe conventional reciprocating presses that mayv befat yhand .vor readily procurable at lowpcost;ltoflconvertthe press into a .complete molding machine. f y

.Tfo-be..-.more explicit, I propose to provide a conversion molding' attachment Which will utilize-the standard platen of the pressas the mold platenof.. the .Y completed molding machine and whichwill also Autilize the. tie rods that customarily unite-the press base with the head thereofasA supporting yand guiding means,.respectively, forI the immobile and mobile elements of the conversion unit. yFurthermorait is my. purpose to make the attachingmeans for the conversionunit of v.sllh construction .thatthey may be laterally applied to or detachedffrom the press tie rods without necessitating alteration of any parts of the press or removal of the press head.

Another object is to provide resilient reaction means interposed rbetween the press `platen and tiev rods for imparting positive adhesionbreaking motion to the mold platen immediately upon release of the latter for retraction into moldopen position. Otherwise, the platen action, which normally depends upon the force of gravity alone, would be too slow.

Aside from. adaptation of the conversion unit to operative combination with a conventional press, it is also my object to provide a unit of this nature wherein the holder for the heating chamber is of such construction that it may be opened upto permit cleaning of the `chamber and nozzle or to permit quick lateral interchange of heating chambers or heating elements without any disassembling of other parts of the unit. This feature is ofY particular advantage when it becomes necessary to substitute a heating `chamber of. one metallic composition for one of another When changing plastics. For example, a steel heating chamber in use in connection with certain ordinary plastics may have to be replaced by' a hasteloy` chamber when changing` over to 9 Claims. (Cl. isf-3o) 2 moldingpf nylon., Another advantage is in permitting quick replacement of a burned out heatingielement or in substituting one of different electrical characteristics. v Another object of the invention is to provide animproved nozzle for the conversion unit which is soconstructed and arranged with relation to theinner end ofthe heating chamber of said unit that a perfect liquid seal is producedat the juncture ofthese parts. Y, A*

. A further object is toprovide a nozzzle which is constructed and arranged to engage eachmold proper;y that may be mounted on the mold platen of the. conversion unit as a whole ina mannerlto effect precise self-centering of said mold. j

Another object is to provide an improved ejection plunger for the molding unit which hasintegral `means for utilizing the extremely high pressure Aprogressively applied to the vplastic charge in the heating chamber and mold proper by` said plunger to tighten and thereby seal the irictional bearing joint between the inner end of.- the vplunger and the cylindrical wall of the heatingchamber in which the former reciprocates toward and away fromk the nozzle.

A further object `is to provide improvedeand highly .effective packing means for the ejection plungerwithin the pressure cylinderV invwhichl it is operated whereby the pressure developed Withfinthe'cylinderwill tend to tighten the packing inlits bearing relation to the opposed surfaces of the plunger and cylinder. j

It is also an object of the invention to provide novel vnon-clogging plunger scraping means at the open end of the pressure cylinder which operates the ejection plunger to remove the adhering plastic lm from the latter during each retractionstroke of the plunger, thereby preventing penetrationof Athe cylinder by waste plastic material; and also to wipe off oil adhering to the interiorly located portion of the plunger during the downward working stroke,

j A- still vfurther obj ect is to provide an improved material feedassembly rfor the conversion molding unit which includes means for accurately measuring, the successive charges of plastic material' while in an unmelted state and for eiectively insulating said charges from the -heat of the heating chamber prior to admission thereto.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully-understood fromA thefollowing description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section "of one embodiment or" the invention applied to a vertical hydraulic press of well known design, showing the platen in mold-clamping position but omitting the material feed assembly; Fig. 2 is e. vertical cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but showing the parts in mold-retracted or open condition; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the lower portion of the press to show the material heating and extrusion assembly and platen reaction device in the condition represented. in Fig. 2, the reaction device being partly in section; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper portion of the press, showing the ejection assembly and material heating and eX- trusion assembly in vertical section in the condition represented in Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional View on line 5,-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a similar view on line -t of Fig. 2, but showing' the hopper and delivery spout of the material feed assembly in retracted position; and Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the base plate of the reaction device.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of the press showing a modified form of the invention, partly in section, applied thereto and represented in mold-clamping condition; Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line iiof Fig. 8; Fig. l0 is a similar View on line iii-i Il of Fig. 8; and Fig. l1 is a Vertical section on line I l-l i of Fig. 10.

Fig. l2 is a large-scale fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the material feed assembly, showing the rotary measuring valve in open condition and the dispensing slide valve closed; Fig. 13 is a horizontal section on line 13-[3 of Fig. l2; and Fig. le is a similar View on line llilst-of Fig. l2.

Before proceeding to describe the structural details of the invention, it is desired to make it clear that it is within the scope thereof to embody its principles in various appropriate classes of molding machines, such as injection, extrusion, plunger transfer, and the like. Although, for the purpose of illustrating a useful application of the invention, I have chosen the injection molding embodiment, it is not intended to be restricted to that specic application.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative disclosure in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, and l2 to 14, inclusive, show one embodiment of the invention as applied to a hydraulic press of well known design.

While the invention is somewhat better suited to incorporation with a vertical press, i. e. one in which the direction of movement of the platen is vertical, only slight changes in the conversion molding unit will be required to adapt it to a press of the horizontal type. It is to be understood, therefore, that the scope of the combination is intended to embrace any press that has a base connected to a head by parallel tie rods and includes a movable platen arranged to reciprocate length- Wise of said tie rods. Moreover, it is immaterial as to what particular power means is employed for impelling the platen in its rectilinear path of movement along the tie rods.

By making the conversion molding unit as compact as practicable, it should fit in almost al1 usual types of presses, subject ofcourse to specific adaptation of the centering and securing means to the diameter and spacing of the tie rods, which will be understood more clearly as the description progresses.

It will be noted in Figs. l, 2 and 3 in particular that the press which is to be converted temPO- rarily at least into an injection molding machine comprises in general a base B, a head H, a pair of parallel tie rods T-T connecting the head rigidly to the base, and a movable platen P which is guided in rectilinear movement toward and away from the head by the tie rods. The means for impelling platen P in its path of movement may be the hydraulic ram E. shown, but it is to be understood that any other suitable type of prime mover, whether directly or indirectly connected to the platen, may be employed within the scope of the invention. it is also immaterial whether the ram or other impelling device be single-acting or double-acting. In a vertical K press, a single-acting ram usually is used because of simplicity and reduced cost, the force of gravity being depended upon for platen retraction. Furthermore, lany suitable control means (not shown) for the impelling device may be employed. In fact, the control means for the injection assembly of the conversion molding unit has not been disclosed completely because of the availability o numerous well known devices for this purpose. l am making no claim tc invention of any particular control element.

Referring not] to the embodiment of my invention disclosed in Figs. l to 7, it will be observed that the conversion molding unit is made up of six principal structural components, e. g. (l) material heating and extrusion assembly Il, (2) material feed. assembly i2, (3) ejection assembly i3, (4) mold platen reaction device li, (5) fit-determining and securing` means I5 for said assembly li, and (6) fit-determining and securing means it for said assembly I3.

Material heating assembly Il comprises nozzle holding block il' in which injection nozzle I8 is removably and adjustably screw-threaded, heating chamber is, electric heating element 20 surrounding said chamber ll, and electrical insulation sleeve 2l encasing said heating element, which is connected with a suitable source of electric current (not shown) by conductors Eil- Ei. Heating chamber E9, heating element 20 and insulation sleeve il! are conveniently of concentric tubular form and, as a unit, are Seated 'in a socket il in nozzle holding block Il.

The problem of applying the material heating assembly to the selected type of press in such a manner that the injection nozzle will be opposed to the mold platen in appropriately positioned relation has led to the invention of fit-determining and securing means which will now be described.

In operation of the completed molding machine, there will be limited movement of material heating assembly li in the path of rectilinear movement of the mold platen P along the parallel tie rods T T so have utilized said rods as supports and guides for the fit-determining and securi' means lil, which is shown in detail in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5. means preferably is in the form of a orosshead yoke which, when engaged operatively with tie rods T T, bridges the gap between them in overlying relation to mold platen P. It being an object of my invention to provide for quick interchange of heating chambers whenever change-over to a particular plastic material requiring a heating chamber of different metalcomposition becomes necessary, as well as for quick lateral attachment and detachment of material heating and extrusion assembly l i with respect to the press, I have divided crosshead yoke I5.- longitudinally. on "avertical plane into sepi' arable sections I5 and I5. These sections are provided .terminally kin their abutting faces with semi-circular fit-determining and bearing recesses 22.-23 to slidably embrace tie rods T T. Suitablemeanssuch as bolts 24, may be .employed to secure sections I5.-I5" of crosshead yoke I5 de*- tachably in applied position on the supporting and guiding tie rods T T for sliding movement thereon. Due to this split-yoke feature; installation and removal from the press may be accomplished by lateral movement of the respective sections I5 and I 5 without having to remove press head H. f r. 1

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, it will be observed that material heating and extrusion assembly I I has been mounted removably in crosshead yokeiI5 in such manner that detachment and separation of the component yoke sections I5 and I5 is all that is required to permit instant.v lateral withdrawal of one assembly and substitution of another. i Both yoke sections are provided medially with registering internal semi'- circular socket sections 25 and 26 designed Vto fit the :periphery of nozzle holding block Il' of material heating and extrusion assembly II. To support. the weight of said assembly Il, suitable provision must be made. I prefer for this purpose-'to provide the periphery of block I l' and the abutting inner faces of socket sections 25 and Zwith'an interlocking groove-and-flange structure 2J. Y

l.In order to resist dislodging upward thrust-on heating chamber I9 when injection nozzle I8 is screwed into block Il, suitable abutment means, such as the ilange-and-shoulder arrangement 28, has been provided where said chamber I9 protrudes from the top of crosshead yoke I5.

Because.A the working pressure exerted on the heated plastic charge in heating chamber I9 may beas high as 20,000 pounds per square inch, I have provided a novel metal-to-metal biting joint between injection nozzle i8 and the lower end of said heating chamber. This is accomplished by providing nozzle i8 with a tapered face Ifor engagement with the sharp inner edge I9' Vofthe lower end of chamber i9.

In order to limit upward movement of crosshead yoke I5 and its supported material heatingassernbly II under the thrust of mold platen P in practical operation when a mold M is in position on said platen, split clamping stop rings 29--28 may be applied laterally to tie rods T T at carefully predetermined rpositions in relation to the top closed position of mold platen P.

To facilitate precise registration of injection nozzle i8 of the material heating and extrusion assembly I I with the sprue of any mold M which may be slightly ofi-center on mold platen P, I have giventhe end of said nozzle i8 a rounded taper in-shape and propose that each mold shall have a tapered socket 39 in its upper face concentric to sprue S. Due to this feature, as the mold closes on-the nozzle, the respective male and female tapered surfaces will eirect automatic centering of the mold on the platen.

vTurning now to Figs. l, 2 and 4, it will be noted that ejection assembly I3 is supported at its appropriate location above the open beveled mouth 3l of heating chamber I9 of material heating assembly II by lit-determining and securing means I6, which preferably takes the fornrof a crosshead yoke having terminal clamps 32-32 having opposed ft-determining recesses (not T-p-T'at la suitablelocation below press head H. Crosshead yoke I6 may be aixed to the pressure cylinder 33 of ejection assembly I3 by means of a medially located socket in which said cylinder is tightly tted. A simple pressed-joint suicient to .support the weight of the ejection assembly will be permissible provided pressure cylinder 33 is of such length that its upper end may abut press head I-I.

The conventional double-acting ejection assembly has an ejection plunger 34 mounted for reciprocation in pressure cylinder 33 and hydraulic pressure controlling means (not'shown) for admitting. fluid under pressure alternately into the upper fand lower'ends of said cylinder throughY ports 35 and 36, respectively. Ejectionv plunger dlhas a piston head 3d at its upper end which imparts reciprocation to said plunger under the iniiuenc'eof uid pressure alternately against its upper and lower faces at the will of the operator;

Theconstruction and installed arrangement of ejection assembly I3 are suchthat plunger. i342 will enter and penetrate mouth'sI of the bore of heating chamber I9 of material heating and-.extrusion assembly -iI to an extent of 'stroke suicient to eject a charge of heated plastic material from said chamber into the interior of mold 5M through nozzle I8. i'

A packing gland 31 is provided at the -lower `end of pressure cylinder 33. However, this particular packinggland differs frornthe usualltype in the addition of a novel device for scraping ofi the film of still soft plastic material which has adhered to ejection plunger 34 Vafter returnfrom each downward ejection stroke-and for wiping oil of the hydraulic pressure system from the plunger during the said ejection stroke. This device preferably comprises a scraper-wiper ring 38 of hard fiber or other suitable material which is mounted in al1-annular socket 39 formed in the bottom face of `gland 3l. The oil wiping function will be improved if the upper portion of ring 38 be made of felt or other fabric. Incross-section, scraperwiper ring 38 preferably has the form of an isosceles trapezoid so as to present a pair of sharp oppositely facing reversible scraping or wiping edges. An annular clamping nut'll enciroles ejection plunger 34 and has screw-threaded engagement with socket 39. Due to the speciiic cross-sectional configuration of scraper-wiper ring 38 and to the fact that nut d@ is provided with an upper face beveled to bear evenly against the lower face of said wiper ring, the act of tightening said nut will cause ring 38 to be wedged into tight contact with plunger 3ft. In order to provide for 'working projection of the free lower edge of wiper ring 38 and to permit evacuation of scrapings exteriorly of packing gland 3l, the internal diameter of clamping nut 40 has been made suiiiciently greater than the external diameter of ejection plunger 34 to aord the necessary clearance and thus an evacuation channel A I. To provide for disposal of oil wiped off plunger 3 4, an annular groove 3l has been provided in the inner periphery of gland 37 above ring 38 and an evacuation duct 3l leads from groove 3l through the outer periphery of the gland.

Another improved feature which has been added to ejection assembly I3 is the provision of pressure-tightened packing washers for piston V311' and for packing gland el. As shown in Fig.

4, piston 34' comprises a ring d2 and a nut i3 of smaller diameter which is threaded onto the upper end of ejection plunger (it.v The exposed tonsirface of ring 42 and `nur troite t9 con;

stitute the effective working face of the piston head as a whole. Between ring s2 and a shoulder 44 provided on plunger 34 there are a suitable number of washers lli. These washers are preferably of a special dished shape, as shown, and at least one substantially axial pressure transmission passage it is provided by perforation of ring 42, so that iiuid under pressure during the downstroke of the piston and plunger will enter the space occupied by washers l5 and will tend to hatten them sufficiently to exert tight iiuid-sealing contact against the opposed surfaces of pistonhead and cylinder.

The same feature has been incorporated in packing gland 3l by providing a substantially axially perforate ring 41 above a number of dished washers d8 and in exposed relation to the interior of pressure cylinder 33. Conversely to the action of the piston packing device, fluid pressure during the upstroke of ejection plunger 34 will tighten the washers 4t against the opposed surfaces of plu -ger and packing gland.

A still further improvement has been made in the ejection assembly i3 to effect a better fluid seal between plunger te and the interior surface of heating chamber it of material heating and extrusion assembly i! while said plunger is engaged with said chamber during each downward ejection stroke. This feature is the provision of a very thin peripheral skirt is of tapered crosssection on the lower end of ejection plunger 3A, This skirt 49 is integral with plunger 3s and thus is metallic in composition. By carefully determining the correct thickness, taper and extent of axial projection, skirt 49 may be made to function in the intended manner within the elastic limit of the metal of which it is constructed so as to return to its original shape after each stroke. As a result, during the plungers down-stroke and while the pressure in the bore of heating chatnber l@ is building up to its 20,000 p. s. i. peak, the skirt it will be expanded radially by the increasing pressure into increasingly tighter frictional contact with the chamber wall. The progressively tightening fluid sealing action thus produced is a very important improvement in the ejection erliciency.

Since it is likely that a vertical hydraulic press will have a single-acting ram for its platen P, the gravity return of the latter from closed position will be objectionably slow for effective functioning in breaking the adhesion between mold and nozzle. Therefore, I have provided a resilient reaction device lll to be interposed between the mold platen P of the press and the guide means for the material heating and extrusion assembly, which guide means are the tie rods T T of the press. Referring now to Figs. l, 2, 3 and 7, it will be observed that the resilient reaction. device which l prefer to employ in adaptation to a press of the selected type comprises two separate units, one for each tie rod T. Each unit has an elongated base plate 5t, a matching top plate 5 I, and a pair of spiral compression springs 52-52 interposed between the end portions of both of said plates. The ends of the springs preferably are sunk in sockets dp-5l provided in the respective plates iill. To permit lateral installation and removal, the respective plates 5t and 5l are divided into end sections SWL-5l having semicircular recesses 53-53 and Eli-54 in their meeting edges dimensioned to nt the corresponding tie rod T. The composite recess in plate 5t is of a diameter to it slidably on the tie rod and suitable clamping means 55 are provided to secure the plate sections 50"-5W together without- 8 binding action on the tie rod. On the contrary, the composite recess in plate 5i is of a diameter to ht the tie rod xedly when the clamping means 5E for the sections 5i "-5i are tightened.

The length of each spring 52 should be such that, when mold platen P is in its closed position shown in Fig. l, with mold lvl in operative engagement with nozzle I3 of material heating and extrusion assembly il and with crosshead yoke l5 driven up against stop rings 29-29, the tension of said springs will be suicient to impart a strong positive downward thrust to mold platen P and the supported mold M at the end of each molding cycle as the pressure in ram R is released by the operator. Conversely, during each mold closing operation of platen P, the resistance or" springs 2%"9 ci' the reaction device to the rarns upthrust will serve to afford automatic slow-down prior to mold contact and thereby eliminate die slam.

The position of top plates iii--i or both reaction device units should be such that, when mold platen l? is its lowered open position shown in 2, crosshead yoke I5 will rest upon said top plates liv-5l in a position wherein the mouth 3i of heating chamber l of material heating and extrusion assembly il will be separated to a considerable distance downward from the protruding end o retracted election plunger Sil or" ejection assembly This space between plunger and heating chamber mouth is required at the stage in each molding cycle shown in Fig. 2 when a fresh charge of plastic material is to be delivered to said heating chamber by the matcrial feed assembly to be described in complete detail at this time.

Turning now to Figs. 2 and l2 through 14, the material feed assembly l2 which I have devised for cooperation with the material heating and extrusion assembly will be observed to include a hopper 5l, which is mounted on one side of pressure cylinder L13 of ejection assembly i3 for limited vertical sliding movement and oscillation on a vertical axis by a simple embracing band 5t, To support the weight of hopper 5l and contents, a pintle iid depending from said hopper in prolongation of its pivotal axis is journaled in a socket 5D provided in a table Si which is permanently supported by the upper end of heating chamber Hl. A collar 59 provided on pintle 59 bears directly upon the upper face of table lll. By constructing table Si of heat-insulation material, the heat from chamber it cannot penetrate the walls of hopper 5l to melt the plastic material therein prematurely and thus interfere with free flow therefrom at the required time.

A sloping delivery spout 62 in communication with the bottom of hopper el extends downward to a level below that of the lower end of ejection plunger 3f: of ejection assembly i3 and has sufficient lateral projection from the axis of 0scillation to move in a path overlying the mouth 3| of heating chamber it so that it may register with said mouth when the hopper is turned into the feeding position shown in Fig. 2. A handle '33, which will be described in greater detail presently, is provided on hopper 5l for use by the operator in moving spout E2 into feeding position. Oscillation limiting stops Sil and 65 are provided on table Si for contact with spout 6x2 in feeding and retracted positions, respectively. Automatic retraction of the hopper spout 62 to a position clear of the thrust path of plunger 3d of ejection assembly i3, upon manual releaseof handle te', is effected by suitable means, such as convolute retracting spring 66, which preferably rests on table @l in encompassing relation to ange 59 with its ends amxed to pintle E9 and said table, respectively. Retracting spring 66 is arranged to be under tension when hopper spout S2 is in feeding position.

vA centrally perforated cover cap t6 for spring 66 has been mounted on pintle 59 to shield said spring against-,being clogged by accidental overflow of plastic material when hopper 51 is being filled.

Hopper 51 preferably is cylindrical in form. At the plane of juncture with tapering delivery spout 62, a horizontally disposed vdispensing slide valve 61 is mounted in a laterally'projecting radially directed slideway 68. In its inwardly thrust position shown, the bottom of hopper 51 is cornpletely shut oil from delivery spout @2. Handle 63, previously mentioned, is aiixed to the outer end of dispensing valve Consequently, this single handle serves two purposes, e. g; to oscillate hopper 51 and spout 62 andl also to open and shut dispensing valve 61.

A charge measuring valve 69 is` positioned in hopper'l at a regulable distance above dispensing valve 61. rlhis valve 69 is composed of two frustoco,nical, centrally perforate, cooperative members 69-5S The lower member 69' is nearly equal in skirt'diameter to the internal side wall diameter of hopper 51. The difference is iust enough to permit member 69' tok slide arri--- ally in hopper. El but affords a joint sufliciently close to prevent leakage of plastic material from the principal interior space of the hopper into the small measuring space below said member 69. In order to prevent rotary displacement of valve member 69', a rectangular frame 10, whose side bars 1I-1I, bottom crossbar 12 and top crossbar 13 are all disposedsubstantially in a diametrical plane, is mounted inside hopper 51. A locking pin 14 is provided in piercing relation to the side wall of hopper 51 and one side bar,1l of frame 1U to secure said frame against displacement from its intendedposition.l Member 59 of measuring valve 59 vis provided with side notches 'I5 to receive and slidably bear against side bars 1|-1I of frame. 10. Valve member 69 is thus restricted to vertical sliding movement only,

A centrally arranged adjusting rod 16 extends axailly in hopper 51 and through the rcentral perforations of both members 69 and 6 9 of measuring valve G9 with its lower end in screwthreaded engagement with bottom crossbar 12 of frame 10. The inner end portion of dispensing valve 61 is provided with a slot 18 to straddle adjusting rod 15 when the said valve is operated. By arranging frame so that sup-porting bar 12 extends lengthwise of slideway 68, slot 18 will be closed when the dispensing valve is closed, so that there will be no gap in the bottom closure. A collar 19 is provided on adjusting rod 16 to support lower member e9 ofi-measuring valve 69. Consequently, the height of said measuring valve and the volume of the space between the same and the dispensing valve 61 may be regulated by manual rotation of adjusting rod 16. For this purpose, a handle 85 is provided 'on the exteriorly protruding upper end of rod 16.

Uppermember 69 of measuring valve 59 has a. skirt diameter nearly equal to the distance between side bars 1l of frame 'it so that it may slide axially and also rotate freely within hopper 51. The central aperture in upper valve member S9"- is suirlciently larger than therdiameter-,of adjusting rod 16 to lit the lower endofa sleeve 8i which is slidable and rotatable on said adjusting rod. Upper valve member Sii is aixed to sleeve 8l so that it may be rotated manually relative to lower valve member 69 by means of exterior-ly disposed handle 82 provided near the upper end of said sleeve exteriorly of hopper 5l. Lower and upper valve members 59 and t3 are provided respectively with preferably segmental ports 83 and Sai which are equal in area but narrower than the intervening solid portions of said valve members, whereby the Valve 6&9 as a whole may be closed by a partial rotation of upper member 5G". The angle of slope of valve members 59 and ed corresponds to the angle of repose of the particular pulverulent or granular plastic material to be handled. Due to this feature, the cone of plastic material as it piles up in the measuring space beneath measuring valve t@ will completely lill the areas directly beneath the solid portions of said valve up to the level of the upper edgesof ports Se in lower valve member 69.

In order that a measured number of charges of plastic material may be admitted to hopper 51 through its open top for a planned number of molding cycles, a suitable scale of measurement is delineated on the exterior surface of the side wall of the hopper and a pointer Se pivotally engaged with the upper end of adjusting rod 16 and supported by sleeve 8l is disposed to traverse said scale te as rod i5 is adjusted vertically by manipulation of handle Se. A stationary guide member 81 projecting laterally from the upper end of hopper 51 serves to maintain registration of pointer 86 with scale 85 regardless of rotation of adjusting rod 16.

From the foregoing description, the manner of installing the conversion molding unit in a press to produce a complete molding machine should be understood without further explanation. However, the mode of operation of the machine will now be described.

The machine 'is first conditioned for operation by insuring that the mold platen P, material heating and extrusion assembly il, and the ejection plunger 34 of ejection assembly i3 are in the mold-open positions represented in Fig. 2, by turning on the electric current for heating element 2U, by supplying the required quantity of solid plastic material for the planned number of successive molding charges to hopper 51 of material feed assembly i 2, and by setting measuring valve for the correct charge volume and then operating said valve to drop the initial'charge into the measuring space above dispensing valve 51.

When the heating chamber is atl the required temperature for melting the initial plastic lcharge, the mold M is placed on mold platen P 1n a position adjudged by visual inspection to be properly centered. The machine is now ready for an operational run of successive molding cycles. l

The rst operation in the initial cycle is to feed a charge of solid plastic material to heating chamber I9. This is done by first oscillating handle $3 of the material feed assembly against the tension of its automatic retractingspring in clockwise direction (Figi 6) -to bring delivery spout E2 into registration with mouth 3i of heating chamber IS. This isa simple, free motion, because'stop 6d precisely determines the limit of movement into feeding position. Now, while the spout is retained in this position, handle 63 is pulled outfto open dispensing slide valve S1, care being taken not to disturb the angular setting of the handle. When the initial charge has gravitated through spout 62 into heating chamber li, handle 63 is shoved back into valve closing position and is released, whereupon spring et automatically retracts delivery spout G2 to inoperative position clear of the mouth of heating chamber I9 and of the path of movement of ejection plunger 34.

As the next succeeding operation in the initial cycle, mold platen P is driven upward into closed relation to material heating and extrusion asembly H by manipulation of the conventional control means for hydraulic ram R. During this mold-closing step, tapered nozzle l@ will engage tapered socket 35i in mold M in a manner to pern feet the centering of said mold just before it becomes immovably clamped between platen and nozzle. At the same time, mold reaction device I4 will serve to slow down the mold-closing moya ment and thereby ease the impact of mold lili with ejection nozzle i8 due to the progressive tensioning oi springs 52-52 as the weight oi assembly li is applied thereto and is followed by the positive resistance of stop rings 2S-l- When the charge of plastic material in heating chamber i9 has been raised to proper molding temperature, the ejection assembly is operated in the usual manner by the control means therefor to drive ejection plunger' 3e downward into heating chamber I8, thereby ejecting the molten plastic charge through ejection nozzle iii into mold M.

Following the operation just mentioned, ejection plunger Sil is retracted and the pres ure in ram R is released to cause lowering of mold platen P. As has been described, gravitational retraction of mold platen P is supplemented by the automatic effect of reaction device i4, which will apply a positive downward kick to said platen through the reaction of springs i2-52. While this is happening, material heating and extrusion assembly il will be permitted to gravitate into the position shown in Fig. 2.

After either ejecting the hardened plastic product from mold M and re-closing it for further immediate use or replacing that mold by a different one, the next succeeding cycle of operau tions may be commenced.

Figs. 8 to l1 illustrate a self-contained form of conversion molding unit which depends entirely upon rictional contact and abutment of position-determining surfaces for mounting installation in properly fitted operative position between the movable platen and head of the conventional press with which it is combined to produce a complete molding machine.

In this illustrative example, a frame Se is provided to be removably inserted between press platen P and head H. Frame t8 is primarily composed of a supplementary platen 89 adapted to bear flat against the working face of the press platen, a supplementary head plate gli to underlie the inner face or the press head, and spacer rods 9 I-9 I intervening between platen 85B and supplementary head plate EQ. Spacer rods .9i-9i are disposed at opposite sides of frame B3 to provide adequate space for insertion of a mold therebetween and have their upper ends adjustably engaged with supplementary head plate Si) in suitable manner, as by the screw-threaded connection shown. The lower ends of spacer rods 9I--9I are slidably engaged with supplementary platen 89. A convenient way to effect this slidable engagement is to erect f supplementary f Al2 tubular guides 52-92 on supplementary platen 39 for reception of the lower ends of spacer rods l-l.

Resilient reaction means for this modified conversion unit is provided preferably by mounting helical compression springs e3--93 in enclosing relation to the respective tubular guides .t2-e2 and interposed between supplementary platen t and collars lill-94 which are suitably affixed to spacer rods ti-lll.

In the modied conversion molding unit, material heating and extrusion assembly il is unchanged. Crosshead yoke i5 for centering and securing said assembly Il in frame 88 is con structed to span rand slidably fit spacer rods 'ill-9i. Stop collars 95-55 are adjustably aixed to spacer vrods 9|.9I above the ends ci crosshead yoke l5 at locations which will appropriately limit upthrust of material heating and extrusion assembly Il when mold platen P o the press is moved into closed position, wherein mold M operatively engages nozzle it of said assembly. Restraining bolts .9B- 96 rise from supplementary platen 89 and slidably pierce crosshead yoke i5 vfor the purpose of preventing accidental detachment oi said supplementary platen 'when the conversion molding unit is pulled out of the press for any reason.

Ejection assembly I3 in this instance is identical with that shown in Figs. l to '7, but it is practicable to fasten the upper end of pressure cylinder 33 thereof to supplementary head plate Sii in the manner shown at 91 instead of employing a crosshead yoke vto center and secure said cylinder to spacer rods ill-lll.

As shown rin Figs. 9 and 10, supplementary head plate e0 and supplementary platen S9 are elongated horizontally in the direction of a vertical plane intersecting spacer rods Sl-Sll and fastening el. The wid-th of supplementary platen '89 must be sufficient to accommodate all molds which may be used in the machine. The entire conversion molding unit consequently will be horizontally narrow enough for insertion from front to rear between tie rods T-T of the press when arranged in the position represented in broken lines in Fig. 9. Subsequent oscillation of the unit in the direction of the arrow will bring it into a position which will clear the way from front to rear of the press for insertion and removal of molds.

While frame 88 serves as means for securing the conversion molding unit detachably in the press, it is desirable to have added means for accurate centering of supplementary platen te, material heating and extrusion assembly l! and ejection assembly i3. This 1 have accomplished by Vproviding tie rod-engaging jaws SS-S on supplementary head plate 80. Jaws sil-eil have notches 99-99 which preferably are V-shaped to nt press tie rods of different diameters. To allow for varying lateral separation of the tie rods in different presses, jaws SiS- 38 may be made relatively adjustable in position as by pivoting them on spacer rods lll-9| to permit adjustment of notches Sil- 99 into precise centering engagement with tie rods T-T of the press. Suitable means for locking jaws S33- 9S in ad justed positions are shown at Ille-48e.

After jaws 98-98 of the conversion molding unit have been adjusted to suit the inter-tie rod distance of the press, urther adjustment should not 'be required during use in the same press although the unit may be taken out and replaced many times.

By comparison, 'the two illustrative embodiments of the conversion molding unit disclosed in Figs. l to 7 and in Figs. 8 to 1l, respectively, diiTer principally in the structural means for fitting the unit to a selected press and for securing the unit against displacement from fitted position under normal operating conditions. For example, in the first-mentioned embodiment, clamping and bearing means embracingly'engage the tie rods of the press to xedly or slidably mount the respective immobile or mobile assemblies of the conversion unit in the press, Whereas in the other embodiment tting and securing is accomplished through the medium of a frame in which all assemblies of the unit are mounted for either mobilityy or immobilty as the case may be. The frame is mounted in turn on the mold platen of the press in friotional displacement-resisting contact therewith and also in position-determining or tting oontact with the press tie rods. Therefore, the term mounting means is to be understood wherever used herein to dene in a general sense all equivalent means for attaching or centering and securing, or tting and securing, the unit assemblies either separately or collectively in the press structure by-engagement with suitably positioned elements of the latter. It is to be understood further that by engagement is meant either embracing attachment or frictional contact and abutment of a character which is sucient to resist displacement from fitted position. 'Returning now to consideration of the Figs. 1 to 7 embodiment of the conversion unit, the mounting means for the material heating and extrusion assembly H is crosshead yoke l5, which embracingly engages tie rods T T of the press slidably, and the mounting means for ejection assembly I3 is crosshead yoke i6, which embraoingly engages said tie rods xedly. In the other embodiment of Figs. 8 to ll, unitary mounting means is provided for both of the assemblies I l and i3 and takes the form of frame 88 which frictionally engages moving platen P of the press and abuttingly engages tie rods T T. It will be understood that it is intended to cover all changes and modications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of illustration which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: l. The combination with a press having a base, a head, parallel tie rods connecting the base and head, a platen. reciprocable along the tie rods, and controllable operating means for the platen, of a conversion plastic molding unit adapted to lit removably in the space between the head and platen of the press, said conversion molding unit comprising: la mounting frame including a supplementary platen to serve as the mold platen adapted to bear frictionally upon the press platen; a supplementary head; parallel spacer rods extending between the supplementary platen and supplementary head in xed relation to said head and in sliding relation to said platen; stop means on said spacer rods; resilient reaction means interposed between said stop means and the supplementary platen; and press fit-determining means :provided on the supplementary platen and supplementary head for lateral abutment against the tie rods of the press; a material heating and extrusion assembly having a heating chamber and a nozzle communicating therewith; a crosshead yoke spanning the spacer rods of the mounting frame in slidable engage- "-mentrthcrewith and supporting the material Vheating and extrusion assembly for movement itt-determining means of the mounting frame vare disposed at opposite sides thereof adjacent to thel spacer rods and present portions which face in opposite directions circumferentially about the axis of movement of the material heating and extrusion assembly for lateral abutment against the' tie rods of the press when the mounting frame is rotated partially after insertion between said tie rods.

3. The combination press and conversion molding unit as dened in claim 2, wherein'the fit-determining means of the mounting frame includes jaws having V-shaped notches adapted to engage the press tie rods.

4. The combination press and conversion molding' unit as dened in claim 3, wherein the jawsv of the t-determining means are adjustable radially'with respect to the axis of movement of the material heating and extrusion assembly for accommodation to press tie rods of variable spacing. 5. Asan article of separate manufacture, a conversion plastic molding unit for removable installation in a press having a head, parallel tie rods rigid with the head, and a platen slidable on said tie rods to produce a complete molding machine comprising: a material heating and eX- trusion assembly having a heating chamber and a nozzle communicating therewith; material ejection means operatively associated with said heating chamber; and mounting means for the material heating and extrusion assembly and ejection means being in the form of a frame includingI a supplementary platen adapted to bear frictionally upon the press platen; a supplementary head; parallel spacer rods extending between the supplementary platen and supplementary head in fixed relation to said supplementary head and in sliding relation to said supplementary platen; stop means on said spacer rods; resilient reaction means interposed between said stop means and the supplementary platen; a crosshead yoke spanning the spacer rods in slidable engagement therewith and supporting the material heating and extrusion assembly for movement toward and away from the supplementary platen with the nozzle facing said supplementary platen for mold registration; means for supporting the material ejection means in the frame; and press fit-determining means provided on the supplementary platen and supplementary head :for lateral abutment against the tie rods of the press.

6. In a plastic molding machine, the combination of: a frame includingI parallel tie rods; a

material heating and extrusion assembly including a heating chamber, a nozzle block enclosing said heating chamber, and an extrusion nozzle supported by said nozzle block in communication with the interior of the heating chamber; and means to mount the material heating and extrusion assembly removably in the frame comprising a split crosshead yoke having opposed sections terminally engaged with the tie rods of said frame and provided medially with registerfof the material heating facing 'socket 'sections embracingly faces of the nozzle block and extrusion assembly, and means to clamp the sections of the crosshead yoke together in gripping engagement with said nozzle block.

7. In a plastic molding machine, the means for mounting the material heating and extrusion assembly in the frame, as dened in claim -6, wherein the abutting side faces of the nozzle block and crcsshead yoke recess sections are cylindrical iorin and provided with a thrust resisting annularly arranged interlocking grooveand-liange structure.

S. '1n a plastic molding machine, a vertically disposed material heating chamber having a filling mouth in `its upper end, a material feed assembly associated withI said heating chamber and including .a hopper having a delivery spout adapted to register with the filling mouth of the heating chamber, a table of heat insulation material mounted on said heating Chamber, and means for mcvably mounting the feed hopper on said table to prevent conduction of heat from the chamber to the hopper.

9. in a plastic molding machine, the combination of: a fra-me, a mold platen movable in said frame; a. material heating and extrusion assembly movable in said frame |in the same path of movement as the mold platen and including an extrusion nozzle facing said platen for registration with .a mold mounted thereon; retractable operating means to move the mold platen to Ward the material heating and extrusion assembly into mold closing position; stop means ing internally1 i tting the external side vresilient reaction means interposed between said mold platen and the material heating and extrusion assembly to cushion mold closing movement and to cause accelerated mold opening movement upon retraction of the mold 'platen operating means.

References Cit-eti in the le o1 this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 919,917 McDuie Apr. 27, 1999 1,517,932 Sylvester Dec. 2, 1924 1,924,474 Wiegand et a1 Aug. 29, 1933 1,945,151 Marsh Jan. 30, 193' 1,974,362 Marsh Sept. 18, 1934 2,233,558 Shaw Mar, 4, 1941 2,308,867 lDinal Jan. 19, 1943 2,374,468 Von Opel Apr. 24, 1945 2,386,891 Gregory Oct, 16, 1945 2,443,853 Fall June 22, 1948 2,490,566 Wishart Dec. 6, 1949 2,501,595 Bohannon Mar. 21, 1950 2,577,412 Ferrell Dec. 4, 1951 2,600,958 Barton June 17, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 442,207 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1936 

